Apparatus and method for multiple well drilling



June 24, 1958 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ET'AL 4 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLEWELL DRILLING I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. '25. 1955 INVENTORS BY 44/0\/m/ 4/5625) am ma WM! $2 6 77 573 ,Qm QMEVS H. J. WOOLSLAYER ETAL2,840,198

June 24, 1958 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE WELL DRILLING Filed Dec.23. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1958 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ETAL 2,840,193

I APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE WELL DRILLING Filed Dec. 25. 1955 5Sheets-Sheet :s

IN V EN TORS 5641:: J (Uuumyig C-ea /wkws J1me 1958 H. J. WOOLSLAYERETAL 4 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE WELL DRILLING Filed Dec. 23.1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Wane fine/ways V H. J. WQOLSLAYER ETAL2,840,198

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE WELL DRILLING Filed Dec. 23. 1955 June24, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent APPARATUS AND METHOD FORMULTIPLE WELL DRILLING Homer J. Woolslayer, Cecil Jenkins, Robert C.Maxwell, and John W. Born, Tulsa, Okla, assignors to Lee C. MooreCorporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Application December 23, 1955,SerialNo. 555,080 6 Claims. c1. 189. 11

" This invention relates to the drilling of two or more oil wells closetogether without moving the base .on which the drilling apparatus ismounted.

For many years there have been two general ways of.

drilling oil wells. One way has been to erect a conventional oil wellderrick and drill a well with it, and then either leave the derrick forservice work and build a new one for the next well, ,or dismantle thederrick and rebuild it at the second well. The other system has been touse a portable mast which is moved from one location to another alongwith its base or substructure. and all of the drilling equipment-Recently a new practice has grown up in certain locations, according towhich two or more wells are drilled close together without moving thederrick and its base. Modern drilling methods permit wells to be drilledas close as only a few feet apart at their upper ends. As the wellsdescend they curve away from one another ,toward the desired undergroundlocations. In such an operation it has been necessary to use a derrickthat is large 'at top and bottom so that the crown block can be shiftedto different locations on top of the derrick-to position it over thelocations of the diiferent wells that are to bedrilled within. theconfines of the bottom of the derrick. This multiple well drillingpractice has developed because of Ithe-xtremely high cost. of preparingdrilling sites in such locations as oiT-shoreand mountain sides. .Such aderrickobviously is a massive and very expensive structure that also hasthe same objections as conventional derricks used in single'welldrilling. v

.It is amongfthe objects of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for drilling a plurality of closely spaced wells withoutmoving the base that supportsthe drilling equipment, in which a portablemast is used that is noflarger than necessary for drilling a singlewell, and in which the top of the mast can readily be shifted from aboveone well location to another without lowering the mast.

In accordance with this invention a substructure. or.

base is provided which can be placed in fixed position over the site ofa line of two or more wells that are to be drilled. An upright drillingmast is located on the base in position to drill a well. Mounted on thebase beside themast there is a gin pole which is used in raising themast and supporting it. There is a pivotal well drilling apparatus; Fig.2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the por} tion of the mastattached to the gin pole;

Pa., a corporation of 2,840,198 Patented June 24, 1958 2 Fig. 4 isahorizontal section taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are schematic views illustrating how the mast is tiltedinto two other well drilling positions;

Fig. 7is a fragmentary schematic view of a modifica tion;

Fig. 8 is a schematic front view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11' are side'viewsvshowing the mast in three differentwell drilling positions;

Fig. 12 is a side view of a further modification; Fig. 13 is an enlargedhorizontal section taken on the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12;

i Fig. 14 is an'enlarged fragmentary side view of the mast taken atplatform level;

Fig. 15 is a rear view of the mast shown in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail drawing showing the connection between theupper part of a brace and the adjoining boom.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the mast is formed from twolaterally spacedbooms'B that are inclined upwardly toward each other andsupport acrown block C, from which a travelling block T is suspended.Each boom has a pair of main front legs 1 that come together at theirlower ends several feet above'the foot of the boom, and a pair of rearlegs 2 which likewise come together at their lower endsat the samelevel. Each boomalso includes at its lower end a removable section 3that extends down below the lower ends of the main legs to a shoe 4 onasuitable base 5 which generally will be mounted on a larger platform 6(Fig. 5).

Each removable section may besecured to-the rest of' the adjoining boomby bolts 7. The, base extends lengthwise of the line'of wellsthat are tobe drilled;,that is,

the base extends forward from the drawworks (not shown) along the lineof wells.

I The mast issupported in upright (not necessarily vertical') operativeposition by a gin: pole, which consists. of a pair of front legs 8connected at their. upper ends to a pair ,of back legs 9. The upperparts of all ofthe, gin pole-legs are disposed between the mast booms.The lower ends of the, .back legs are mounted in shoes 11.

behind the-mast. [The legs ofthgin pole will be re-. ferred to hereincollectivelyas the gin pole, even though the opposite sides of the poleare not connected together.

The mast can be raised to upright position from a reclining position,indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2;

by swinging the mast upward on'its shoes 4 in a wellknown manner withtheaid of a sling (not shown) connected with the top of the gin pole andattached to the traveling block T. When the mast is upright itcan beconnected to the top of thegin pole by suitable means to improve thestructural rigidity, if desired, but that is not absolutely necessarybecause guy lines are used anyway in order to obtain the advantagesofthis invention.

The guy lines 13 are connected to the top of the mast and extend forwardand backward and'down to suitable anchorage points, such as the ends ofthe platform 6, 3

on which the base is mounted. Suitable means, for example turnbuckles14, may be and shortening the lines. 7

When the mast is swungup into the-position shown in Fig. 2, the lowerends of the main legs land 2 of; each boom swing into frontand rearbrackets 15 and 16 mounted on a horizontal supporting beam 17 jrigidlypconnecting the front and rear legs of the gin pole. The legs are thenconnected to the lower part of these brackets by removable pins 18.After this connection has been made, the removable section 3 ofeach-boom can be disconnected from the rest of the boom and stored awayin some other location until it is time to lower the mast. By removingthese lower portions of the booms,

provided for lengthening V the mast does not in any way obstruct theworking area onthe base. i

Another feature of this invention is that after a well hasbecmdrilled,the mastcambe tilted eithen forward or backward to passion the crownblock over thelocation of a seeondiwell to be drilled. This tilting ofthe mast isacconiplished byzth'e 'guy lines 13 and turnbuckles; Intilting the inastfofrward for example, as shownin Fig. 5,1115 rear guyline is lengthened and' the front line is shortened. However, beforethis can be done, the back legs 2 of the mast must be disconnectedfromthe rear supporting brackets 16 so that. the mast canswing forward onthe pins 18in the front brackets .15.. The mast is tilted until itsrearllegs can be pinned tothe'rear bracketsthrough anupperfset'of holes20,.with which the brackets are provided. The mast then isheld by all ofthe supportingbrackets and the 'guy'lines while the sec- 0nd wellisdrilled in front of the first one.

A third well can be, drilled by tilting the mast 'back wardas shown inFig.6. This'is done after its back legs have first been returned totheiroriginal position in'the re'ar brackets 16 andits front legs havebeen dis connected fromthe front brackets so that the mast can pivot onthe pins 18 in the rear brackets.

upperfp'arts of the frontbracketsthrough upper holes 21. Due to the lackof any cross members between the two booms, there are noobstructions tointerfere with the drillingflines andthe traveling block while themastis tilted. i

Following the drilling-of the three wells in the manner just described,the mast is swung upright again and then the removable sections 3 arereturned to the base, pivoted to the mast shoes4 and swung up besideboom legs 1 and 2. As'soon as the removable sections have been fastenedto those legs by ,bolts 7, the legs are disconnected from brackets and16 so that the entire mast can be swung forward and down to the groundfor separation from the base.

A further feature of this invention is that regardless of whether the.mast is vertical or in its forward or backward tilted position, theracking platform remains horizontal and is located in the correctposition relative to the well being drilled. The platform'may beconstructed in various ways but ingeneral it has a horizontalj'frame 23that extends between the booms and in front of the upright mast. Theprojecting portion of the frame supports a guard rail 24. The frame issuspended by means offront and rear pairs of suspension links 25 and 26pivotally supported at their. upper ends by brackets 27 (Fig. 1 on theinner faces of the booms. The lower ends of the rear pair of links 26are pivotally connected to the rearend of the platform frame, while thelower ends of the front links 25 are pivotally connected to the frameabout midway between its front and rear ends. The'two pairs of links arenot parallel to each other, but, diverge downwardly as shown in Fig. 2.They are disposed at an angle such as to hold the platform level when itswings forward relative to'the forwardly tilted mast or backwardrelative to the rearwardly tilted mast, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,respectively. This swinging ofthe platform relative to the mast alsolocates the platform in the correct position for the'well being drilledat the time. While the mast is upright, the platform is held againstswinging by removable bolts 28 extending through the front legs of themast and the sides of the platform frame. These bolts also are used forconnecting the platform to the mast after the latter has been tilted ineither direction and the platform has swung in or out to the correctposition.

With the apparatus just described, a line of at least three wells can bedrilled without moving the base or the gin pole. Of course, if the baseis skidded sideways "on When the mastjhas been tilted, its front legsare connectedto the platform 6,a second line of wells can be "drilledbeside V the first line. In addition to beingable to use a portable:

one-well type of mast that can be swung up and down between recliningand upright positions, another advantage of this apparatus is thatseveral wells can be drilled without moving the crown block relative tothe mast and without lowering the mast.

In the modification shown inlFig. 7, the mast, while its removablesections are still secured to its lower end, is swung up on shoes 4 toupright position in'the same way as described above. The mast then isconnected to the top of each side of the gin pole by a removablepivotltl, and the lower ends of the main legs 1 and 2 are connected inspaced brackets 32 and 32A mounted on the supporting beam 17 thatconnects the front and backlegs 8 and 9 of thegin pole. After theremovable sections of the mast booms have been taken away, the mast canbe used'for drilling the first well. To drill a second well in front ofthe first one, the mast is disconnected from the brackets and then istilted forward on pivots 31 by guy lines or the, like, as previouslydescribed. In its tilted position, the lower endof the mast is connectedto anv other sct'of brackets 33 and 33A on the supporting beams. Afterthe second well has been drilled, the mast can be disconnected from thebrackets and swung back onpivots 31 to locate its crown block over thelocation of a third well behind the first two. In this position, themast .is connected to a'third set of brackets 34 or 34A on thesupporting beam. Tolower the mast after drilling,

shown in Fig. 1, except that the lower parts of the booms D are notremovable. Instead, the mast, after it has been swung upwardly on shoes36 from reclining position, is detachably connected to the top of theopposite sides of the gin pole 37 by removable pivots 38. Suspended beftween the .booms by pivotal links 39 andl40 is a self-' levelingrackingplatform 41 like the one described earlier herein.

After the mast has been used for drilling the first well, it is tiltedforward or backward on pivots 38 to drill a second well and then it istilted in the opposite direction to drill a third well, all as indicatedin Figs. "9,10, The tilting is accomplished by suitable means such asguy lines 42 attached to the top of the mast, after the foot of the masthas been disconnected from the center and. 11.

holes in shoes '36. When the mast has been tilted forward, its foot isconnected to the rear holes 43 in the shoes to help hold the mast. Afterbeing tilted in the opposite direction, the foot of the mast isconnected to the front holes 44 in the shoes. After all three wells havebeen drilled, the mast can be swung upright again and reconnected to thecenter holes of the shoes, following which it is disconnected from thetop of the gin pole and swung down to the ground, or the mast can beswung down directly from any one of its three positions. Of course, theshoes shown are only for the purpose of illustrating the invention ingeneral and separate shoes could just as well be used for each of thethree positions of the mast, if desired.

It will be'observed that in each drilling position of the mast, theracking platform 41 is level and is correctly,

located relative to the center line of the well being drilled.

This particular drilling apparatus accomplishes the same 'three wellscan be drilled without moving the base 46, is

illustrated in the remaining figures of the drawings. As

there shown, the mast again is formed from a'pair of laterally spacedbooms E connected at their upper ends by a crown block 47 and hinged tothe base in shoes 48. In this case, however, the gin polevis locatedbehind the mast. Ithas nearly vertical back legs 49 mounted in rearshoes 50 a considerable distance behind the mast shoes, and inclinedfront legs 51 that slope down from the top of the rear legs to shoes 52(Fig. 15) mounted between the mast shoes. The mast may be raised fromits dotted line reclining position by a sling 53, attached to the backof the mast and extending back around sheaves 54 carried by the'top ofthe gin pole and then forward again under sheaves 55 mounted in the backof the mast. This lower end of the sling is connected to the travelingblock 56 in the mast. 'When the block is pulled toward the crown blockin the usual way by the drawworks (not shown), the mast is swung upwardon its shoe 48 to upright operative position, which may be vertical orslightly inclined.

To hold the mast upright, it leans against the upper ends of a pair oftrussed braces 57, the lower ends of which are pivoted to the top of thegin pole. The braces are rigidly connected to the upper part of the mastbooms to hold them in place, by means of connection plates 58 (Fig. 16)secured to the upper ends of the braces and removably bolted to thebooms. The plates are provided with holes that will align withcorresponding holes in the booms for each drilling position of the mast.

After the mast has been erected, a racking platform is.

hoisted up to the proper level and connected to one of the braces andbooms. The platform includes a narrow horizontal frame 61 extendinglengthwise of the base and from which a footboard 62 and the piperacking rake 63 project toward the opposite side of the mast. The frontend of the frame is pivotally connected at64 to the adjoining boom, andthe rear end of the frame is detachably connected to one of three pairsof brackets 66, 67 and 68 projecting forward from the lower surface ofan inclined channel 69 mounted in the adjoining brace 57.

The three pairs of brackets are so positioned that when the mast is inthe position shown in Fig. 12, the platform frame should be connected tothe middle pair. When the mast is swung to its forward position, theplatform will be fastened to the upper pair of brackets. The lower pairis used when the mast is drilling the rear well.

Fig. 12 of the drawings shows the mast in a position for drilling asecond well. The first well was drilled with the mast in the morevertical dotted line position and with the rake and footboard of theracking platform moved farther forward on the frame, as is indicated inbroken lines in Fig. 13. After the first two wells have been drilled,the top of the mast is disconnected from the braces while it is held bya snubbing line, and then the mast is allowed to tilt farther backwardto the rear dotted line position in Fig. 12, where it is again securedto the upper ends of the braces. is adjusted accordingly for drillingoperations in thisv position of the mast. After all three wells havebeen drilled and the platform removed, the mast is disconnected from theupper ends of the braces and is pulled forward by the snubbing lineuntil the sling is put under tension. Then the mast is lowered toreclining position by allowing the traveling block to descend in themast.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explainedthe principle of our invention and have The racking platform 7illustrated and described what we now consider to repre- However, wedesire to have so that the mast can 'be tilted to lmate'its upper end inanother well drilling position, and means for connecting the foot ofthemast to the base in different locations to hold the mast in eitherupright or tilted position; 2

2. A multiple well drilling derrick comprising a base, an upright maston the base in a well drilling position, a racking platform projectingfrom the front of the mast, the mast being formed from laterally spacedbooms joined together at their upper ends, a pivoted support for themast so that it can be tilted forward and backward to locate the upperend of the mast in other well drilling positions, means connected withthe mast for holding it in either upright or tilted position, and linkspivoted at their upper ends to the front and back of the mast andat-their lower ends to the platform, the front links being farther fromthe back links at their lower ends than at their upper ends forsupporting said platform level in any of said mast positions.

3. Apparatus for drilling a line of closely spaced wells, comprising abase adapted to be placedin fixed position over the site of said wellsand extending lengthwise of said line, an upright drilling mast on thebase in position to drill a well, a gin pole on the base beside themast, means detachably hinging the lower end of the mast to the base,and detachable'means pivotally connecting the mast to the top of the ginpole to' permit the mast to be tilted lengthwise of the base whendisconnected from the base, the base being provided at a point spacedlengthwise thereof from said hinging means with means adapted to receivethe lower end of the mast when themast is in a predetermined tiltedposition, whereby the top of the mast can be located in a plurality ofdifferent positions lengthwise of said base for drilling a plurality ofwells without moving the base, the mast being adapted to be swung onsaid hinging means, down to reclining position when disconnected fromthe top of the gin pole.

4. Apparatus'for drilling a line of closely spaced wells, comprising abase adapted to be placed in fixed position over the site of said wellsand extending lengthwise of said line, an upright drilling mast on thebase in position to drill a well, a gin pole on the base beside themast, means detachably hinging the lower end of the mast to the base,detachable means pivotally connecting the mast to the top of the ginpole to permit the mast to be tilted'lengthwise of the base in oppositedirections when disconnected from the base, the base being provided atpoints spaced lengthwise thereof in opposite directions from saidhinging means with means adapted to receive the lower end of the mastwhen the mast is in a predetermined tilted position at either side ofits upright position, whereby the top of the mast can be located in aplurality of different positions lengthwise of said base for drilling aplurality of wells without moving the base, a racking platformprojecting from the front of the mast and movable backward into themast, means holding the platform level when the mast is in either ofsaid tilted positions or in upright position, and means for fasteningthe platform rigidly to the mast in any of said positions.

5. The method of positioning a mast for multiple well drilling,comprising swinging the mast on its lower end from a reclining positionup to an upright position for drilling a well, then freeing said lowerend and tilting the mast on an axis several feet above its lower end toposition its upper end over the location of a second well, and anchoringthe lower end of the tilted mast to hold the mast while the second wellis being drilled. i

6. In the method of drilling a line of closely spaced wells from a mastbeside a gin pole on a base located in fixed position over the site ofthe wells and extending lengthwise of said line, the steps comprisinghinging to the base the foot of a reclining mast extending lengthwise ofthe base, swinging the mast up to upright position, connecting theupright mast to the top of the gin pole to drill '7 the first well,disconnecting said foot from the base, tilting the mast on said gin poleconnection to position its upper end over the location for the secondwell, and con-' necting the 'foot to the base to hold the mast insaidtilted position.

- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSWoolslapyer et a1. Aug. 25, 1942 Hilborn July 2, 1946

